Which group of service members would you consider your band of brothers or sisters?

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 14:10:32 -0400

The Band of Brothers is something that most if not all military members and veterans can easily associate with their experience. The concept was "immortalized" in a movie with the same title.
Many of us probably consider the members of our first military unit [ship, etc.] to be our band of brothers because that is where we transformed from being a newbie to a seasoned soldier [marine, seaman, airman, etc.].
Bands of brothers and sisters have existed since ancient Greece and was immortalized in the battle of Thermopylae and even includes the Sacred Band of Thebes and the legendary Amazon women fighters.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Aug 11 at 2015 2:16 PM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 14:16:37 -0400

Bravo 1/3, 2nd platoon, 2nd squad in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Aug 11 at 2015 2:17 PM

GySgt John O'Donnell — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 14:17:26 -0400

Every unit I was a member of I build relationships with my brothers and sisters which allowed us to be successful as a team.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Aug 11 at 2015 2:20 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 14:20:50 -0400

I had two different bands of brothers. The first includes some close friends from my West Point company and class of 1980 who shared many experiences with me - many of which can never be named:-)
The second band of brothers are the soldiers who served in A Company 1st Battalion 52nd Infantry in 1981 to 1984. That is where I served as a mechanized infantry platoon leader and had the privilege of serving with and over a great group of soldiers. Later I served as XO of the company and also served as OIC of the mortar platoon gunnery since I was an IMPOC graduate.
I have kept in tough with members of these two bands of brothers even though we served decades ago our bonds of friendship are still strong.SGT Forrest Stewart,

Response by SPC David S. made Aug 11 at 2015 2:34 PM

SPC David S. — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 14:34:35 -0400

I had brothers and sisters everywhere I went for the most part. I'll be honest, I didn't realize just how "popular" I was until after I was in an accident. I was sitting down one day counting how many friends I had and, realized, I have more friends than I could ever count. Only a handful or two I see on a regular basis but still. I plan to hangout with some of my brothers from my first unit this weekend. Haven't seen them in about 3-4.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 11 at 2015 2:56 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 14:56:02 -0400

I identify more with 11th Marines and 7th Marines from Vietnam,but have "Brothers" in other branches of the service.I call all who served my Brothers.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 3:02 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 15:02:39 -0400

I'll be honest, I don't associate myself with any Band of Brothers particularly, because I can never really identify with a lot a people. I have one friend who's also in the armed forces, and he isn't even stationed with me. If I were to have any sort of "Band" of Brothers, it'd probably just be a band of two; me and my friend since eighth grade.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Aug 11 at 2015 3:28 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 15:28:00 -0400

B co, 1-68 Armor holds a special place in my heart. Many of us are still in contact today. If you called me and told me I could go to war with that group of dysfunctional psychos but I had to leave tomorrow, my wife would probably be very angry. haha

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Aug 11 at 2015 3:48 PM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 15:48:06 -0400

Those who have or do wear the uniform of my Country.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Aug 11 at 2015 7:55 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 19:55:44 -0400

If you want to talk about a band of sisters, I would say it has to be the combat nurses that took care of our wounded in so many wars...

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Aug 11 at 2015 7:57 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 19:57:30 -0400

My brothers in Armor units.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 8:13 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 20:13:29 -0400

My Band of brothers was when I served in the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, (FAST). 3 deployments in 2 years with the same people. there's no slow turnover with fast. they guys you start with are the guys who are there until the end of that platoons cycle. id have to say I'm closer with most of them then I am with a good portion of my own family.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 8:16 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 20:16:37 -0400

The 8 Recon Tech Squadron, Westover AFB, MA. Left there in October 1969.

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Aug 11 at 2015 8:34 PM

SGT Lou Meza — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 20:34:29 -0400

For me there are three Bands Of Brothers ! A Co 229 AHB and A Co 2/7 Bn 1St Cav Div Vietnam plus B Co 1/13 Inf 8Th Inf Div Baumholder Germany

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 1:06 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 01:06:53 -0400

My brothers and sisters are all that wear and had wore the uniform. But there a group of sisters that i missed the most "TeamLioness" a group of female Army support soldiers who were part of the first program in American history to send women into direct ground combat. Without the same training as their male counterparts but with a commitment to serve as needed, these young women fought in some of the bloodiest counterinsurgency battles of the Iraq war and returned home as part of this country’s first generation of female combat veterans.

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Aug 12 at 2015 3:47 PM

MSgt Jim Wolverton — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:47:48 -0400

I would say the folks that I served with during both of my tours to Germany. I'm still in touch with many of them today and always will be.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Aug 12 at 2015 4:48 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 16:48:19 -0400

I consider all military: past, present and future; to be my Bands of Brothers; LTC Stephen F.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 4:54 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 16:54:26 -0400

LTC Stephen F., in this order, 915A/E Warrant Officers, all Warrant Officers, all Ordnance Soldiers and the Army service members and then all Service branches.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Aug 12 at 2015 5:46 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 17:46:14 -0400

LTC Stephen F., I consider all of the military to be my Brothers and my Sisters.

Response by SGT Robert Hawks made Aug 12 at 2015 6:59 PM

SGT Robert Hawks — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:59:01 -0400

I would say my band of brothers where the members of D 5/77 Ar I was in that unit for four years and knew those soldiers better than any I ever served with in over 13 years service.

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Aug 12 at 2015 7:36 PM

MSgt Jim Wolverton — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:36:42 -0400

This is good question and applicable to everyone in the military.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 13 at 2015 5:55 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 05:55:30 -0400

There are people from every command I was ever at that I consider my "Band of Brothers and Sisters."

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Aug 13 at 2015 9:26 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:26:38 -0400

LTC Stephen F. This is a tough one to answer, because over a 37-year period you band with many brothers and sisters in arms. To focus on your question clearly though I would say there have been three bands of brothers/sisters that I can related to over the years. The first being the 357th Aviation Detachment, Chievres AF, Belgium from July 1977 to June 1980. Very close group of individuals (14 total) with a very special mission. Became a very close and tight group of individuals. Still in contact with most today. The second would be the headquarters that I deployed with in OIF 05-07. Great group of soldiers that I still keep in contact with today as well. The third and final would be the team that I assembled with the 89th SB - a Brigade that I had the honor of starting from the ground up with just myself and the CSM as the very first two soldiers assigned to the Brigade.

Response by SGT William Howell made Aug 13 at 2015 9:40 AM

SGT William Howell — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:40:34 -0400

People that I served in combat with. There is a bond that can only be formed by placing you life in the hands of somebody else freely. It is a bond that is unbreakable.

Not sure if I would call it a Band of Brothers, just because I would never want my bond to be associated with a book or movie. What we have is real and those that don't know what it is will never get it and no book or movie will ever come close.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Aug 13 at 2015 10:14 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:14:06 -0400

I have been a member a a select few groups.... and I still maintain contact with a few people within these groups. I have actually had the opportunity to "merge" some of the significant members (and their families) into a "new" band of brothers.... it could have gone either way, but thankfully, all families got along fantastically!!

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2015 12:58 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 12:58:21 -0400

i would say B Co 1/1 (Desert Storm), Fellow Drill Instructors I served with (Lima and Delta Co, RTR San Diego) and 1st LAR (C ((OEF) and Wpns Co ((OIF2-1)

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Aug 17 at 2015 3:52 PM

CWO2 Shelby DuBois — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:52:32 -0400

I think it was Ben Franklin who said... 'we either hang together, or most assuredly will hang separately"... thus... we had better be a band of brothers and sisters because if are not, then we are only individuals with memorabilia on the walls, snazzy uniforms in the closet and a lot of cool stories to tell. If we don't stick together and put branch envy and rank pride aside we will be picked apart and by that I mean benefits, pay, our legacies and for the current editions still strutting their stuff...sub par planes, ships, rifles and knives. Yes... if anyone asks ...we are all related.

Response by Cpl Ruth Cohn made Aug 18 at 2015 3:03 PM

Cpl Ruth Cohn — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 15:03:41 -0400

I consider all Marines my band of brothers. On a personal level however, it would be my fellow 3381's U.S. Marine Corps cooks! The ones I served with will always have a special place in my heart.

Response by SGT Juan Soriano made Aug 20 at 2015 11:37 AM

SGT Juan Soriano — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 11:37:23 -0400

My first unit, we have build our unit together and still keep in touch up to this date. We are always texting and calling, at least 2 a week. We still go by "accountability" even when Is not requested. Good times..

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2015 11:39 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 11:39:04 -0400

I would say my band is an eclectic group of people who surround me now, and if I were in need of something, I could pick up the phone and count on them. Mostly Army, but I have members in my band from the Marine Corps, and Navy as well. A few civilians I know as well. People who have been with me in good times and bad. These are people I've laughed, cried, and grieved with.

Response by SPC Bill Earley made Aug 23 at 2015 5:53 PM

SPC Bill Earley — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 17:53:28 -0400

I can't distinguish any certain unit , they were all my brothers and sisters .

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Aug 25 at 2015 4:26 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 16:26:11 -0400

Thank you for defining Band of Brothers to me; LTC Stephen F..

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Jul 31 at 2017 3:19 AM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 03:19:12 -0400

LTC Stephen F. I remain in contact with a number of my brothers. One of my sisters died this year. We served together at Navy Memphis. Sadly I have lost contact with too many. But when I hear of one of them passing, it is like the lost of a close family member.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 31 at 2017 6:48 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 06:48:03 -0400

All of them. We all have each others back.